The Gadget Lifestyle...

Cross posted from my personal blog -
While traveling this summer, I had a funny realization - my life (especially on the road) has been taken over by electronics. I was in Europe at an airport - I think it was in Budapest on my way out of Hungary, but it may have been Germany - too many airports on that trip. I passed my backpack into the scanner and they kept running back and forth. It turns out, I had it packed too densely with electronics to scan properly. Who knew?

I have learned to rely on a few key gadgets and some new ones as well. Topping the revised new list are my kindle eBook reader and my Zune music player for entertainment, my HP Tablet PC for keeping up with all things internet and such, the Nikon D-90 for capturing a photo record of the fun and my Garmin GPS to help me find my way. My Blackberry Tour keeps me in touch and connected to the internet both on the device and with Tether mode.
Of course, for power, you need the whole assortment - the international travel adapter kit, the power supplies for the notebooks. I usually have 2 there. The charger for the camera and cables to charge the Zune, Phone and Kindle along with a universal plug, an extension cord since hotel plugs are not always convenient. For mobile power, I have an inverter with a plug that adapts to fit the car or plane.

All this gadgetry makes life a little more fun, but takes up space. I typically keep this collection and a little more in my backpack when traveling and have had to learn to pack creatively to make it fit without jamming up the xray machines. The key is modular and layers like a cake or lasagna. mmmmm speaking of food - there needs to be a few goodies in there as well. I am particularly fond of the Starbucks Via packets for a quick pick me up.

Blackberry tether mode

I have the Blackberry 8330 and it is generally a good device. Yes, it occasionally looses it's mind and has to be given a hard reset, but otherwise, I can get online, check email, view (tiny) presentations and so on. The best is the function I rarely have to use, but LOVE when I do.

Tether mode is something every business person should have. (at least those without a dedicated air card!) I have used it on vacation at the beach, in airports and other remote locations. Yes, I know I should not have to check email on vacation, but what do you think pays for the vacation? You have to earn the cabbage some how so occasionally taking a meeting from vacation is a minor annoyance made easier with this capability.

I installed the connection manager from Verizon and all I have to do now is plug in the phone and go. Of course, if you are using this feature, make sure you are on an unlimited plan for data or you will be hurting at billing time!

The joys of air travel

As I type this, I sit in the airport in Philly waiting for the aircraft that is supposed to get me to Burlington at 5:30 to arrive. It is now 5:38 and they say we are not leaving until 6:30 earliest so unless US Scare-ways has a time travel capability that I am not aware of, I am getting in a couple of hours late. No big deal, it just means dinner later and driving later... and I hope the ferry is open later. Come to think of it, that's a detail I should verify. I suppose on landing I can find that out assuming they know at the car rental agency. (stream of consciousness [eof] )

Travel gets interesting every time weather gets a little weird and that seems to happen with surprising regularity! Watching the reaction of fellow travelers is mildly entertaining, with the resignation displayed by some and the freak out mode from others. (I'm not sure how that really helps anything). Now the debate is to eat in the airport or hold off for a late dinner in Vermont or NY... I suppose a little more time on the keyboard and a check on the departure time will drive that decision.

The delay has allowed me to try out the e-Book reader I brought along and I am pleased with the device. It is easy to read and pages nicely. The button placement could be better but I am able to hold it one handed and page so I suppose it was a design compromise for functionality. I did accidentally flip to the beginning once while getting used to it, but that was easily corrected and I am sold on the concept. I think I will be picking up a kindle at the end of the year. I am looking for the whisper net feature, larger screen and keyboard features but this is a great bridge device and thanks to my wife for sharing.

Update on the flight - still in the airport at 8. Original flight canceled. New flight delayed until 11 or so at this point. It's looking like a long night. My first meeting is at 8 in NY. I could have driven there at this point, but who knew. If this gets cancelled, I will have to skip this leg and drive straight to Andover, missing NY this pass. Here's to hoping I make this flight.

Travel Time...

I'm packing for this coming week, and cramming in a bit of work on my slides for upcoming integration work. We are nearing that long awaited deal close and I think we are all so very ready for the final papers to be signed and begin working as one company, even if layoffs are imminent for at least some of us. The news reports have been predicting large numbers will loose jobs due to synergy targets, which makes sense even if it is a tough process. (Been there before)

For now, I am heading up to Chazy, NY by way of Burlington, VT (closest airport I can get a direct flight to) to meet with my Drug Safety team and clients, then on to Andover, MA the following day to meet with clients in that location as well as my associate in the AAPS, Sheldon. That day is divided between AAPS and Bioanalytical client work. The final leg is on to Groton, CT to meet with Pfizer associates and others on the Wyeth team, then a quick flight home from Providence, RI.

For the trip, I am going through the usual list of electronics and gadgets to take along, with a new addition. My wife recently brought home a Sony e-Book reader, the PRS-300 in pink. While I am not thrilled with the pink color as I am more of a basic black kind of guy, I am taking it along with a couple of books, some slides and pdf documents to review and also my itinerary. I am looking forward to seeing how well it works and how I like the eBook approach. Of course, the Zune, GPS and other goodies come too. Ok - off to pick up my daughter and resume preparations for the week.